Aviation Officers BRd 2

CHAPTER 24

AVIATION OFFICERS

(MOD Sponsor: CINCFLEET: ACOS(CSAV))

CONTENTS

Para
2401. Commander (Air) Float
2402. Commander (Air) Ashore
2403. Lieutenant-Commander (Operations) Afloat
2404. Lieutenant-Commander (Operations) ashore
2405. Air Traffic Control Personnel
2406. Lieutenant-Commander (Flying) Afloat
2407. Lieutenant-Commander (Flying) Ashore
2408e. Duty Lieutenant-Commander (Flying) and Officer in Charge of Night Flying
2409. Flight Deck Officer in CVS
2410. Force Commander
2411. Squadron Commanding Officer or Flight Commander
2412. Squadron Senior Pilot
2413. Squadron Senior Observer
2414. Squadron Air or Helicopter Warfare Instructor
2414a. Aviation Warfare Officer (AvWO)
2415. Squadron Electronic Warfare Instructor
2416. Flight commander of a Ship’s Flight
2417. Flight Deck Officers in Ships Carrying Helicopter Flights
2418. Aircraft Controllers in Ships Carrying Helicopter Flights
2419. Survival Officer
2420. Fire Station Officer
2421. Aircraft Control Room Officer (ACRO). See BR766
2422. Special Duties List Officers (P), (O) or (AV) - General Duties

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CHAPTER 24

AVIATION OFFICERS

2401. Commander (Air) Float

1. Responsibility to Commanding Officer. The Commander (Air) is the head of the air
department and is responsible to the Commanding Officer for the following:

a. The safe and efficient conduct of all flying operations conducted from the ship,
including assets from other Services.

b. Provision of advice on all matters pertaining to the use of aircraft, consulting

other specialist officers as necessary.

c. Management of the Air Department, which includes all aviation elements and
personnel when embarked.

d. The provision of supporting advice, guidance and information to the

Command and embarked Battlestaffs.

e. Advising on the operational aspects of all aircraft accidents and incidents

involving aircraft operating from, or attached to, the ship or Task Group.

f. An efficient Flight Safety Organisation.

2. Training. He is responsible for administering the continuation training of the following:

a. Flyco personnel: For all aspects of Flyco and Flight Deck operations.

b. Lieutenant Commander (Operations) and Air Operations Officer. For control

and co-ordination of aircraft operations and exercises.

c. Flight Deck Officer and Captain of the Flight Deck: For deck movements.

2402. Commander (Air) Ashore

1. Responsibility to Commanding Officer. Commander (Air) is the head of the air

department and is responsible to the Commanding Officer for the following:

a. The safe and efficient conduct of all flying operations within the associated
airfield airspace and areas of responsibility.

b. Provision of advice on all matters pertaining to the use of aircraft, consulting

other specialist officers as necessary.

c. Management of the Air Department.

d. Advising on the operational aspects of all aircraft accidents and incidents

involving aircaft operating from, or attached to the air station or establishment.

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e. An efficient Flight Safety Organisation.

f. Chairmanship of the Flying Control Committee for Air Displays at the TAS or
its outstations; he is to be the Display Director or nominate a suitably qualified
Officer when appropriate.

g. Co-ordinating Performance Assessments of TAS based Squadrons and

Flights in consultation with Force Commanders.

2. Training. He is responsible for administering the continuation training of the following:

a. Lieutenant Commander (Operations) and Lieutenant Commander (Flying):

For control and co-ordination of aircraft operations and exercises.

2403. Lieutenant-Commander (Operations) Afloat

1. Responsibility to Commanding Officer. Lieutenant-Commander (Operations) is

responsible to the Commanding Officer for the following:

a. Production and arrangement of Ship and Task Group exercises, deployments

and operations including full liaison with external planning agencies and
authorities.

b. Co-ordination of exercise, deployment and operational orders and signals.

2. Responsibility to the Executive Officer. He is responsible to the Executive Officer

for:

a. The integration and dissemination of all departmental requirements into a co-

ordinated short and long term programme.

3. Responsibility to Commander (Air). He is responsible to Commander (Air) for:

a. Planning, control and co-ordination of aircraft operations, exercises and

movements in consultation with SWO and other specialist officers as
necessary.

b. Administrative control and safety of aircraft other than those under the control
of AWO and those under the control of the Lieutenant-Commander (Flying).

c. Co-ordination of the search and rescue organisation.

d. Briefing and de-briefing for embarked aircrew.

e. Provision of air maps and charts, air traffic and flight information documents.

f. Compilation of operational plans for normal and emergency situations.

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2404. Lieutenant-Commander (Operations) ashore

1. The primary purpose of Lieutenant-Commander (Operations) ashore is to co-ordinate

and control all air operations and exercises involving the Air Station, its squadrons and
visiting aircraft so that tasks are conducted efficiently, safely and economically.

2. The specific duties of Lieutenant-Commander (Operations) ashore will be dictated by

the individual Naval Air Stations and the following generic duties are given as guidance
only:

a. Management of the Operations/Air Operations organisation(s).

b. Planning and co-ordination of the Air Station input to exercises, operations

and displays.

c. Monitoring of operational readiness and preparation of inputs to performance

and readiness reports.

d. Acting as Divisional Officer/Line Manager for Operations Department

personnel.

2405. Air Traffic Control Personnel

1. Senior Air Traffic Control Officer, Duty Air Traffic Control Officer, Approach Control
Room Supervisor, and ATCOs at sea:

a. Responsibilities for Air Traffic Control personnel afloat/ashore are contained

in BR767 (Order 600) and Naval Aviation Orders

2406. Lieutenant-Commander (Flying) Afloat

1. Responsibility. Lieutenant-Commander (Flying) is the deputy head of his

department. He is responsible to the head of the air department for:

a. Controlling all aircraft being launched or recovered onboard.

b. Taking all measures available to him to ensure the safety of aircraft being
launched or recovered and of all aircraft airborne in the immediate vicinity of
the ship, other than helicopters engaged in anti-submarine operations or
exercises for which those officers exercising control remain responsible.

c. Ensuring that the relative wind speed and direction and the condition of the
flight deck are suitable before giving the signal permitting aircraft to be
launched or recovered.

d. Ensuring that deck run distances are correct for each fixed-wing aircraft before
launch.

e. Reporting and initiating assistance to any aircraft under his control which may
be in difficulty or distress and ensuring that other relevant departments
concerned are informed.

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f. Initiating AIRMOVE action for any aircraft under his control which may be
diverted.

g. Organising and taking measures to ensure the training of personnel in flight

deck drills, fire fighting and NBCD measures within the air department except
in those areas under the Air Engineer Officer. (See Para 1101).

2. Ship Associated Factors: LPH/CVS. Where no ACRO is borne Lieutenant-

Commander (Flying) is to undertake the duties set out in BR 766, Embarked Aviation
Operating Handbook.

2407. Lieutenant-Commander (Flying) Ashore

1. Responsibility. Lieutenant-Commander (Flying) is the deputy head of his

department. He is responsible to the head of the air department for:

a. The management and monitoring of the use of all airfield facilities.

b. Flight safety matters pertaining to the standards and practices of aircraft and
all personnel on the airfield.

2408e. Duty Lieutenant-Commander (Flying) and Officer in Charge of Night Flying

1. Night Flying or Flying in Marginal Weather Conditions. The decision on whether

flying by night or in marginal weather conditions shall begin or continue is one for the
command, but may be delegated to Commander (Air) or Lieutenant-Commander (Flying).

2. The duty Lieutenant-Commander (Flying) (or Officer in Charge of Night Flying), in the
absence of the officers referred to in Clause 1 above, is acting on their behalf and is
responsible for the whole conduct of flying, including the decision as to whether the
conditions are suitable for the exercises being continued.

3. It follows that this officer must be carefully selected from senior and experienced
Lieutenants and Lieutenant-Commanders or suitably qualified Military Support Function
Personnel, and that he must, when on duty, be fully conversant with what exercises are
being carried out, with the forecast weather and with the various limitations and restrictions
applicable to each type of aircraft airborne from the airfield, as well as the necessary action
to be taken in emergency. He should also take steps to acquaint himself with the actual
weather conditions in the exercise area.

4. In the planning of night flying programmes when marginal or adverse weather

conditions are forecast it is essential that, before flying starts, arrangements be made for
the immediate diversion of aircraft. The appropriate diversion airfields should be
nominated, alerted and state of aids ascertained.

5. At airfields with several types of aircraft and aircrew in different stages of training, the
various criteria for flying to continue must be clearly laid down by the command.

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2409. Flight Deck Officer in CVS

1. Responsibilities. The Flight Deck Officer (FDO) is responsible to Lieutenant-

Commander (Flying) for:

a. Controlling the movement on the flight deck of aircraft manned by aircrew

before launching and after recovery and giving the advisory signal for launch
or take-off of fixed-wing aircraft; and to helicopters as may be required.

b. Controlling the movement on the flight deck of aircraft not manned by aircrew
to meet the requirements of the Aircraft Control Room Officer.

c. Ensuring that safety procedures are correctly observed by personnel

operating aircraft, vehicles, and air equipment (excluding maintenance
equipment) on the flight deck.

d. Directing the work of the aircraft handling parties.

e. Assisting any aircraft in danger on the flight deck.

f. Taking charge of the removal of crashed aircraft from the landing area after the
aircraft has been prepared for lifting by the Air Engineer Officer.

g. Taking charge of the flight deck NBCD parties, and organising the measures
for pre-wetting.

h. Undertaking the organisation and supervising the training of personnel in flight

deck fire-fighting, flight deck drills, and NBCD measures.

i. Having custody of the flight deck fire-fighting equipment and ensuring that it is
in proper working order and readily available.

j. Ensuring that all equipment on the flight deck is correctly secured when not
required for immediate use.

k. The seamanship safety aspects of handling explosive stores on the flight

deck.

2410. Force Commander

1. The primary role of the NAC Force Commander is to provide force coherence and
capability management in the generation of operationally capable Squadrons and Flights.

2. Additionally, they fulfil the following secondary roles:

a. The focal point and subject matter experts for platform-based aviation issues
within Fleet.

b. To act as Customer 2 (Pivotal Management) for their respective platforms and

future replacement aircraft.

c. To provide Force programming advice to Fleet N5.

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3. Accountability. The Force Commander is located at the TAS, or appropriate satellite,

under the Military Command and line authority of the TAS Commanding Officer. However,
in order to provide the Fleet HQ with a point of contact for platform-centric capability
issues, they are functionally accountable to the Fleet HQ for the accomplishment of those
tasks.

4. Authority and Command Relationships. The NAC Force Commanders exercise

both Military Command and Administrative Control over their squadrons and taff and, as
such, will continue to be represented on the Fleet Bridge Card. Command of front-line
squardrons and flights by the Force Commander is only applicable when they are
disembarked at the TAS, or on detachment from the TAS. On embarkation, accountability
of the Squadron CO or Flight Commander switches to the Ship’s Commanding Officer or
CTF/CTG/Component Commander, as applicable. However, it is necessary for the Force
Commander to retain a degree of oversight over embarked Squadrons and Flights in order
to manage force capability. For example, it may be necessary to re-allocate aircraft of a
certain configuration, or re-appoint aircrew with specific qualifications, from one front-line
unit to another, that decision would be taken by the Force Commander (in consultation with
the necessary Fleet AV/2SL staff).

5. The Force Commander has functional authority over the Senior Aircraft Engineer
(SAE) for all Required Operating Fleet Control, Technical Support and Modification Control
issues.

6. The NAC Force Commander exercises Military Command over his HQ staff and
squadron COs. He has TACOM over his respective Force Units for the generation of force
packages to achieve appropriate force structure, size and capability.

2411. Squadron Commanding Officer or Flight Commander

1. Responsibilities. The Squadron Commanding Officer or Flight Commander is

responsible to the Commanding Officer, where a head of air department is nominated he
will be responsible through the head of air department for all matters concerning his
squadron or flight and in particular the following:

a. The preservation of airworthiness of individual aircraft by ensuring that

personnel under command operate and maintain aircraft within the
requirements and limits specified in the Release to Service and the
Airworthiness Documentation Set.

b. In operational squadrons or flights, achieving and maintaining a high standard

of fighting efficiency.

c. The safety of squadron or flight aircraft and personnel and any passengers
carried.

d. Administration, discipline, morale, welfare, training and efficiency of the

squadron or flight.

e. The custody of squadron or flight aircraft and mobile equipment.

f. Closely liaising with the Communications Officer so that efficient

communications are ensured.

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g. Seeking advice as necessary from specialist officers on matters affecting the

squadron or flight and associated training.

h. Keeping a complete record of all accidents and ensuring written reports on

Form A25 are rendered as required by JSP 551, Military Flight Safety.
Duplicates are to be retained in the squadron, flight, parent squadron, ship or
station records.

i. Keeping such other records and rendering reports as may be required by

current regulations.

j. Ensuring that divisional duties (See Chapter 18) are properly carried out in his
squadron or flight.

2. Functional Authority. Additionally he is subject to the functional authority of the ship

or station Air Engineer Officer, for the following:

a. The material and modification state of his aircraft and all associated
equipment.

b. Providing maintenance ratings, designated ‘augmentees’ by complement, to

the ship or air station support facilities.

2412. Squadron Senior Pilot

1. Responsibilities. The Senior Pilot is appointed as such by MoD(Navy) and in

squadrons of single seat aircraft, and in other squadrons in which he is senior to the Senior
Observer, he will be Second-in-Command of the squadron. He is responsible to the
Squadron Commanding Officer for:

a. Conduct of the Executive Officer responsibilities (see Chapter 9 Section III)

when appointed as such.

b. Continuation training of squadron pilots.

c. The safe and efficient conduct of flying operations and the maintenance of a
high standard of air discipline within the squadron.

d. Preparing himself for duties as a detachment commander; to which end he

may be required to assume greater responsibility and be delegated greater
authority in certain circumstances, as required by the Commanding Officer
and as authorised by him.

e. The maintenance of standards and practices of all pilots, monitoring

continuation training and currency to provide combat-ready pilots (limited
combat-ready from training squadrons).

f. Promotion of Flight Safety. He is to act as the Flight Safety Officer and chair
the Squadron Flight Safety Committee meetings.

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g. The establishment of an efficient Post Crash Management organisation,

identifying procedures and personnel for all environments.

h. Liaison with NFSF and other outside agencies on matters of flying standards
and pilot related topics.

2413. Squadron Senior Observer

1. Responsibilities. The Senior Observer is appointed as such by MoD(Navy) and will

be Second in Command of the squadron if senior to the Senior Pilot. He is responsible to
the squadron Commanding Officer for the following:

a. Conduct of the Executive Officer responsibilities (see Chapter 9 Section III)

when appointed as such.

b. Maintenance of an efficient Operations and Communications organisation

such that the Squadron aims and objectives can be met. He is to be the
squadron Operations Officer.

c. The maintenance of standards and practices of all Observers, monitoring

continuation training and currency to provide combat-ready observers and
aircrewmen (limited combat-ready from training squadrons).

d. Preparing himself for duties as a detachment commander; to which end he

may be required to assume greater responsibility and be delegated greater
authority in certain circumstances, as required by the Commanding Officer
and as authorised by him.

e. Training of observers and aircrewmen in the squadron.

f. Conduct of flying and flying discipline of observers and aircrewmen.

g. To initiate and develop policy, procedures and tactics for navigation, role
specific doctrine and associated tactics.

h. Correspondence with TAS/FLEET and parent ship on matters relating to

operational tasking.

i. Liaison with NFSF and other outside agencies on matters of flying standards
and observer related topics.

2414. Squadron Air or Helicopter Warfare Instructor

1. Responsibilities. The Squadron Air or Helicopter Warfare Instructor is responsible to

the Squadron Commander for:

a. Training aircrew in the use and delivery of air weapons, the development and
standardisation of correct weapon delivery techniques, and the indoctrination
and training of aircrew in air warfare tactics generally.

b. Co-ordinating the squadron’s weapons supply requirements in conjunction

with the appropriate ship’s departments.

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c. Assessing, analysing and recording results of practices in conjunction with

specialist officers if appropriate.

d. Submitting armament practice returns and reports.

e. Liaising with technical specialists on the weapon system.

f. Determining the sight, weapon system and weapon fuzing settings to be used.

2414a. Aviation Warfare Officer (AvWO)

1. Responsibilities. Developed from the Squadron Warfare Instructor qualification, the

AvWO is a Command Advisor and specialist in the tactical employment of maritime
aviation assets. He is responsible to the Command for:

a. Maintaining a level of Operational Capability that matches unit readiness.

b. Advising Command on the employment of air assets across the spectrum of

the Core Maritime Roles.

c. To deliver an effective contribution to Join Operations at Unit level.

d. Planning, conducting and advising on Air Operations and their contribution to

Force Projection and Force Protection at Unit level.

e. The safe employment of aircraft weaponry specific to own aircraft type.

f. Promoting tactical doctrine and the tactical development of own aircraft type.

2415. Squadron Electronic Warfare Instructor

1. Responsibilities. The Squadron Electronic Warfare Instructor is responsible to the

Squadron Commander through the Senior Observer for:

a. Training aircrew in EW equipment and its tactical use.

b. Advice on EW intelligence matters and initiating tactical doctrine.

c. Liaising with technical experts in the EW field.

d. Recording and analysis of EW exercises.

e. EW trials co-ordination.

2416. Flight commander of a Ship’s Flight

1. Responsibilities. The Flight Commander of a ship’s flight, when embarked, has

responsibilities similar to those of a Squadron Commander (see Para 2411) insofar as
these responsibilities are applicable to service in ships which have no Air Department
other than the Flight itself. In ships without a Commander (Air) or Lieutenant-Commander
(Air) he is to assume the responsibilities laid down in Para 2401.

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2. Responsibility to Commanding Officer. The Flight Commander is responsible to

the Commanding Officer for:

a. The preservation of airworthiness of the aircraft by ensuring that personnel

under command operate and maintain the aircraft within the requirements and
limits specified in the Release to Service and the Airworthiness
Documentation Set.

b. The safety of the aircraft, aircrew, flight personnel and any passengers carried.

c. Rendering routine reports in accordance with current regulations.

d. The correct attachment of weapons to his aircraft, and final preparation of the
weapon system within the aircraft. If the Flight Commander is an observer, this
is the pilot’s responsibility.

3. Responsibility to the Principal Warfare Officer. The Flight Commander is

responsible to the Principal Warfare Officer for:

a. Information on the aircrafts’ state of readiness.

b. Advice on the tactical use of the aircraft, its weapons and sensors.

c. Operating the aircraft as directed, subject to the limitations implied in clause

2a above.

4. Responsibility to the Operations Officer. The Flight Commander is responsible to

the Operations Officer for:

a. The operational efficiency of airborne weapon systems, and of officers and

ratings of the Flight.

b. Collaboration on exercises and practices involving airborne sonar or air

delivered weapons; the safety measures recording and analysis
requirements.

c. Routine ship’s administration of the ship’s flight.

d. In the absence of a qualified Meteorological Officer, meteorology.

5. When disembarked at his parent air station, the Flight Commander is responsible to
the parent station Commander (Air) through the Headquarters Squadron Commander.
When disembarked elsewhere the provisions of this Article are generally applicable,
modified as necessary to suit particular circumstances.

2417. Flight Deck Officers in Ships Carrying Helicopter Flights

1. Responsibilities to Commanding Officer. The Flight Deck Officer is responsible to

the Commanding Officer of the ship for:

a. The safe conduct of flight deck operations required for helicopter launches
and recoveries.

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b. Controlling aircraft on the correct take-off and approach paths using standard
helicopter marshalling signals.

c. Ensuring that the relative wind speed and direction, condition of the flight deck
and ship movement are suitable before giving:

(1) The signal permitting aircraft to be launched or recovered.

(2) The executive signal to engage or disengage rotors.

d. Advising the pilot on the correct approach and landing path by means of R/T
or the approved visual signals.

e. The safe and timely use of the following signals which are to be interpreted by
the pilot as mandatory:

(1) Wave-off.
(2) Hold on deck (lashings are on or being put on/taken off).

f. The fire-fighting and crash-rescue organisation on the flight deck, the

serviceability and availability of fire-fighting equipment and the training of
firesuitmen and crash and rescue crews.

g. Ensuring the security of the flight deck and hangar and safe stowage of all
loose equipment, including aircraft maintenance equipment, at all times.

h. Taking charge of all incidents and accidents on the flight deck. Where
explosives are involved, he is to take advice from the relevant Specialist User
Officer until relieved of this responsibility by the Explosives Responsible
Officer.

i. Providing and maintaining a log book in accordance with the ‘Instructions to

Users’ contained therein.

2418. Aircraft Controllers in Ships Carrying Helicopter Flights

1. The Aircraft Controllers’ responsibilities are laid down in Para 2606.

2419. Survival Officer

1. Responsibility to Air Engineer Officers. The ship (or station) Survival Officer is
responsible to the ship (or station) Air Engineer Officer for the following:

a. Organisation of the survival equipment section and the technical efficiency of

the ratings employed therein.

b. Employment of front line squadron/flight survival equipment ratings within the

section organisation.

c. Efficient maintenance of all aircraft aircrew survival equipment and aircrew

flying clothing (See also BR 768, Naval Aviation Engineering Staff
Instructions).

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2. Responsibility to Commander (Air). He is responsible to the ship (or station)

Commander (Air) for the following:

a. Maintaining the Survival Officer’s register in accordance with current

instructions.

b. Conduct of all aircrew drills appertaining to survival equipment in compliance

with current instructions.

c. Training of aircrew in survival equipment matters.

d. Recording of survival equipment practices and instruction completed by

aircrew.

e. Briefing of passengers who are required to wear survival equipment.

3. Squadron/Flight Survival Officer. The Squadron/Flight Survival Officer is to co-

operate with the ship (or station) Survival Officer on all matters of survival equipment as
they affect the squadron/flight and to assist in the training of aircrew in survival equipment
and survival matters. When a ship/station Survival Officer is not borne he is to undertake
the equivalent duties and responsibilities in the squadron/flight.

2420. Fire Station Officer

1. Responsibilities. The Fire Station Officer is responsible to Commander (Air) at a

Naval Air Station for the following:

a. Provision of a fully manned crash and rescue tender in working order to be

used for watchkeeping on the airfield under the direction of the Air Traffic
Control Officer.

b. Training and efficiency of the crash and rescue tender crews.

c. Ensuring the equipment, as supplied to the crash and rescue tenders, is kept
in proper working order by regular care and maintenance, and that complete
dress for the crew is available and worn when on duty. All vehicle and
equipment defects are to be reported to the Defence Fire Risk Management
Organisation.

d. Rendering reports on all aircraft and structural fires.

2. Additionally, he is responsible to the Executive Officer for first attendance fire-fighting

and for precautions against fire throughout the air station, under the guidance of the Area
Fire Prevention Officer.

2421. Aircraft Control Room Officer (ACRO). See BR 766

2422. Special Duties List Officers (P), (O) or (AV) - General Duties

1. A Special Duties List officer (P), (O) or (AV) is to undertake the duties appropriate to
his qualifications and the instructional and administrative duties of his sub-specialisation.
When serving afloat and not required for duties with aircraft, he is to undertake such ship’s
duties, including watchkeeping, as his Captain may consider him fit to perform, having
regard to his rank, seniority, training and experience.

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